Phils in first, Dodgers roll

With a one-run win in Atlanta and the Mets losing, 1-0 in DC, Philadelphia is all alone in first by a half-game in the NL East. The Phillies own five straight wins while New York appears to be choking down the stretch again, losers of three in a row.

Out West, the Dodgers appear poised to run away with the division. Behind a strong performance from Derek Lowe, Los Angeles beats the Pirates, 6-2 and clutches to a 4.5 game lead on the Diamondbacks with 11 to play.

Cubs sneak past Brew-Crew

Kerry Wood certainly has a flair for the dramatic. Wood gave up a run on Ray Durham's RBI double in the 9th that cut Chicago's lead over the visiting Brewers to 5-4. Wood then allowed Ryan Braun to reach on an infield single before striking out Prince Fielder to end it. Fielder had hit two home runs earlier in the game.

Chicago sure played well in the clutch. Reed Johnson's diving catch in the 6th kept a narrow 3-2 lead in tact for starter Ryan Dempster, and Alfonso Soriano's late solo homer coupled by an 8th-inning RBI single from Henry Blanco provided the difference.

The Cubs magic number over Milwaukee is four, and they can clinch the NL Central with a series sweep in three games. Chicago stands nine games ahead of the fading Brewers. Milwaukee falls behind the Mets for the NL Wild Card.

AL shaping up

A wild night in the American League as the Rays bounce back to beat the Red Sox, 2-1, and the Cleveland Indians enjoy a three-run homer from Victor Martinez in the 11th to best the Twins, 12-9. Tampa stands atop the AL East again, while the White Sox own a 2.5 game lead on the Twins in the AL Central with a dozen to play.